Prisoners of War Game

Built upon the principles in the Third Geneva Convection, the Red Cross Prisoners of War online game is a quick and interactive way to introduce international humanitarian law. The game walks players through building a prisoners of war camp, deciding whom to treat as a POW, and running the camp.

I’ve typically had students play the game before a class on international humanitarian law. I find that students are often unclear about the concept of prisoners of war. The word “prisoner” tends to throw them off, so they are surprised at the protections afforded prisoners of war compared to prisoners in a criminal sense. This game provides a useful starting point for that discussion.